Method of initiating underwater seismic disturbances



, 1956 K F. G. BLAKE, JR 2,771,961

METHOD op :N ITIATING UNDERWATER sEIsMIc msTURBANcEsl Nov.

Filed July 27, 1955 .INVENTOR {FRANC/5 G. BLAKE,JR.

METHOD OF INITATIN G UNDERWATER SEISMIC DISTURBAN CES Francis G. Blake, Jr., Fullerton, Calif., assignor to California Research Corporation, Sau Francisco, Calif., a corporation of Delaware Application July 27, 1955, Serial No. 524,658

4 Claims. (Cl. ISI-.5)

My invention relates to a method of initiating seismic disturbance in water, and particularly to a method of reducing the secondary pressure pulses resulting from bubble oscillation due to explosions below the surface.

In the conventional practice of olshore seismic surveying, a string of'detectorsis placed on the bottom of the ocean or slightly below the surface of the water. These detectors are connected to a multi-channel recorder in a recording boat. A charge of explosive is detonated below the surface of the water to create a seismic disturbance. The seismic disturbance passes through the Water into the Vbottom of the ocean and strikes a reflector which may be thousands of feet below the ocean bottom. The seismic disturbance is reected from the reflector or subterranean discontinuity back to the seismic detectors in the water. The seismic detectors pass an electrical signal to the recording boat where a number of seismic traces coming from the different detectors are recorded critical factor in the proper recording of seismic rellec-Y tions. If me explosive charge is placed too deep within the water, the explosive cavity or gas bubble from the explosion tends to pulsate. Thateis, the bubble expands and contracts a number of times before the energy of the explosion is completely dissipated. Seismic detectors placed in the water detect the energy which travels through the water directly to the detectors. At times, the detectors also receive a pulse of energy which is known to result from the direct flow to the detectors of energy due to pulsations of the explosive bubble. received energy from the explosion has a high amplitude and arrives at a predictable time. Accordingly, it gives rise to little or no diiculty in interpreting the seismic record. Directly received energy from subsequent pulsations ofthe bubble causes a lower amplitude deection on the seismic record and Vmay arrive simultaneously with l.; Y

in which W1=the potential energy of one of the explosive sources v pulses occur at a time whenthe reflected energy from theV initial explosion is being recorded. The secondary pulses which travel directly to the detectors are larger in amplitude than the energy of the initial explosion reflected from the deep lying reflectors,` and hence, obscure the desirable reflected venergy arriving at the detectors. AAfter theYV The first directly D1=the distance below the surface of the water 0f the 2,771,961 Patented Nov. 27, 1956 rice the larger source during the initial expansion of the two bubbles and thereby creates a channel for pressure release from the larger bubble toward the surface. Y

Both of these patents appear to rely on the immediate combination of the bubbles from two sources in order to prevent bubble pulses. vWhile both of these methods may, under the proper circumstances, cause suppression of bubble pulsation, I have found that two seismic sources may be employed in a different fashion to minimize bubble pulsation. My method operates ona dilerent physical principle and results in the dissipation of an appreciable portion of the pulsation energy before the explosive bubbles come in contact with each other. My method distinguishes from the Carlisleand Finn method ink that,V

in the practice of my method, seismic charges are spaced apart so that the bubbles arising from the detonation of the charges do not contact each otherY during their first expansion. Further, I have foundthat'the explosive sources may be separated by a vertical distance in the water if the potential energies Vof the explosive charges are properly related to the vertical distances between thecharges.

Both patents teach thatV the two explosive charges may ,l be of different magnitude but they both contemplate that the explosive bubbles from their charges coale's'ce during the rfirst expansion of the bubble.V l have found that'the bubbles` from the two explosives can be made to migrate togetherif the explosive charges have the proper weights Y relative to the vertical distance between the charges. The

movement together of the bubbles dissipates the energy in the bubbles and minimizes the seismic disturbance l W2=the potential energy of the second source tirst explosive source i D2=the distance below the surface of the water'of the bubble oscillations cease, the signal received at the detecsecond explosive source.

The novel features of my invention are set forth with more particularity in the accompanying claims. The invention itself however, with respect to the details thereof, together with its additional objects and advantages may Vbe better understood from the following description Vof a specific embodiment with referenceY to the accompanying drawings in which-'- v Fig. l shows explosives in place below the surface of the water;

Fig. 2 shows the bubbles caused by the two explosives. As shown in Fig. 1, a group of seismic detectors 3 are placed in linein the water., A conductor 5 leads from the detectors to the recording yboat-7.A -Apair of-explosive charges 9 and 11 are spaced apart at a predetermined distance by a rod or line 13.` A buoy supports the explosive charges 9'and 11 frorn'alinefll-A Afco'nductory leads from-an auxiliary boat (not shown) toexplosivesl Brandll.; The auxiliary boat is equipped to detonate the explosives 9 and 11 simultaneously. While the draw-A ing shows two charges centered one above' the other, one of the charges may be above and to the -side of the other. It is, however, contemplated that the charges will be spaced apart vertically and that the weight of explosive inthe Alower charge will be greater'than'the weight of the explosive in the upper charge. y

Fig;2 shows the explosive bubbles formed in the water as seen shortly after the charges 9 'and-11 areldetonated. The 4bubble' 1.9y arising from the charge 9and'bubble 21 arisingfrom'the detonation charge 11; `are not in'contact duringvthe first expansion of'the explosivebubbles il)Y and 21. Inthe practice of my inventionthe: charges 9 'and 111 -are spaced apart by a'distance less than 3 halves the sum of the maximum radii of explosive bubbles 19'and 21. The Vminimumiseparation betweenthe 'explosive charges 9 and 11 is that which will prevent the explosive bubbles 19 andr21 from coalescing during their irstexpansion. i Y 7 The Yfollowing approximate formula 'gives the maximum radius of an explosive bubble in sea water:-

am=maximum radius in feet W=weight of explosive in pounds d=depth of submergence in feet This formula applieswhere the explosive is black'powder or T. N. Tf It is substantially correct for dynamite, tetryl and pentolite.. If another explosive iis'fused which has different vexplosive characteristics, thiswill `be reflected in a'constant in the formula, which kwill'in V.that case diler fromf13.5.v i i Y Ihave prepared a table setting forth maximum radii of the bubbles for black powder or dynamite. The weight Wof. explosive is placed at a depth d and causes an explosive bubble which reaches a maximum radius am feet 4 W2=the potential energy Vof the second source D1=the distance below the surface of the water of the rst explosive source D2=the distance below the surface of the water of the second explosive source..

Hence, the depth of D2 can be determined yin accordance with the relationships A value may be first selected for the weights of the two explosives and the depthof one of the explosive-below the surface. The potential energy offa charge is approximately proportional to the weights of the charges and W1 and W2 may be the weight of explosive in the charges. From the above equation the depth-of the second ex-plo- Vsive can be determined.. The `foregoingtable` relating mam'mum radii to depth and weight of explosive isused to select values for use in the equation which-.will satisfy therequirementthat the` charges have thel propePSpaCing apart.Y It is to be noted that the requirement may be y used:

where L=the distance between the centers of vthe explosive'` Y sourcesV v am1=maximum radius of the explosive bubble frornthev rst charge `cm2-:maximum radius ofthe explosive bubble, from the second charge. v Y l Y Equations 2 and 3, solved together, have -aniiniiniteinunber lof solutions. Thev seismic prospector is required merely to select convenient values for three-of the variables in view of Equation-3V anddeterminefthejourth value from kEquation V2.v The explosive charges are -prefer-V ably spaced apart at a distance greaterthan thesnm ofthe maximum radii of the two explosivepbubbles butless thanV 3 halves the sum ofthe maximum radii. It isimportant that the energies of the explosives and their depth below In. the surface be related according tothe above--equations- Theexplosives are placed far enoughapart thattheir explosive bubbles do` not contact on Vtheliirst expansion;i

instead, the explosive bubbles move toward each other as they oscillate.

I have found that the exponent 5.32 -is the bestvalue as shown by oneseries of experiments. i Theetectiveness of my invention probably arises from the phenomenon that bubbles Vfrom ther-twov chargesfini-y grate toward each other after Vthe initial explosion. Bierk-Y A nes forces exist to draw together two pulsating yspheres in a liquid which oscillate inl phase `(cf. Bjerknes forces in Yeo The potential energy of the two sources will be-deter- Y mined according to Vthe following relationship:

W12 W22 i l in which 1 Y Wr=thepotentialy energy of the-frst-'lexplosive `source stationary sound fields, F. G. Blake, The Journal of the Acoustical Society of America, vol. 21, No. 5, p.'5r5l, Sep-f The two bubbles Vfrom the explosion of` u the charges Vaccording-to my invention, Vareattracted 'Y l Migration Vof the ,two bubi bles results in viscous dissipation of the energy` of o scillai tion and Vin conversion-of the energy of oscillation `into tember `1949).

together by Bjerknes forces.

energy of translationlof thesurroundingrwater-.vl As a yresult ofthis vdissipation'of theenergyof oscillation,there l Y is less energyv radiated inthe form oli-secondary pressure pulses and less noise'is generated in the seismicdetectors While I have explained my inventionV with reference to a single embodiment, I am aware that many modifications of it may be made within the scope ofhmy inventionY For example, it is not essential that the two vexplosives -liein the same vertical line, it is merely necessary that one ex Y plosive -be atla lgreater depthithan the other.A I do not,-

I have used the .quantities -(D1-l-33,)5 l j and (D2-I-33)5 in the above-equations.- In theequationsfV the exponent 5 may range from 4.5 to 5.5. For' example Y therefore, intend to limit my invention except as set forth in the appended claims.

I claim:

l. A seismic source for offshore seismic exploration comprising a first and second explosive source, means for positioning said irst explosive source above said second explosive source, means for detonating said explosive sources simultaneously, the potential energy of said explosive sources being related to their positions in the Water according to the following relationship:

W1=the potential energy of the first explosive source Wz=the potential energy of the second explosive source D1=depth below the surface of the first explosive source D2=depth below the source of the second explosive source,

W1=the weight of explosive charge of the rst explosive source Wz=the weight of explosive charge of the second explosive source D1=depth below the surface of the first explosive source D2=depth below the surfacve of the second explosive source,

said first and second explosive sources being spaced apart by a distance greater than the sum of the maximum radii of the explosive bubbles and Iless than 3 halves the sum of the maximum radii of the explosive bubbles.

3. The method of producing an underwater seismic impulse comprising placing a rst charge of explosive of a preselected potential energy within the water at a depth D1 below the surface thereof, placing a second charge of explosive of preselected potential energy the water at a depth D2 below the surface thereof and in vertical spaced relationship to said first charge the depth of Y each charge and its respective potential energy being related substantially in accor-dance with the relationships in which W1=the potential energy of the iirst charge W2=the potential energy of the second charge D1=the distance below the surface of the water of the rst explosive source Dz=the distance below the surface of the water of the second explosive source,

said first and second charges of explosive being spaced apart at a distance greater than the sum of the maximum radii of the two explosive bubbles and within the range of Bjerknes forces, and exploding the charges simultaneously to produce said seismic impulse.

4. The method of producing an underwater seismic impulse comprising placing a first charge of explosive of a preselected potential energy within the water at a depth Y D1 below the surface thereof, placing a second charge of explosive of preselected potential energy Within the water at a depth D2 below the surface thereof and in vertical spaced relationship to said first charge, the depth of each charge and its respective potential energy being related substantially in accordance with the relationships where W1==the potential energy of the iirst charge W2=the potential energy of the second charge D1=the distance below the surface of the water of the first explosive source Dz=the distance below the surface of the Water of the second explosive source,

said lirst and second charges of explosive being spaced apart by a distance greater than the sum of the maximum radii of their explosive bubbles and less than three halves the sum of the maximum radii of their explosive bubbles, and exploding the charges simultaneously to produce said seismic impulse.

References Cited in the tile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Finn June 3, 1952 Carlisle Nov. 25, 1952 

